Calgary Flames And The 2007 Draft

In the 2007 Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks picked up notorious party boy Patrick Kane and Calgary Flames managed to keep away from that three ring circus.  Instead they picked up centerman Mikael Backlund 24th overall.

While this young player spent much of the 20011-2012 season injured, in previous seasons he contributed to the team as best as a rookie could.  As a member of Team Sweden for the World Championship, World Juniors Championship, and U18 tournaments, Backlund has a future ahead of him as a Calgary Flame.  With his contract up this July, the future might be a little hazy but at a $1.27 million cap hit, Backlund is the start of the youthful push the Flames can start.  With Bob Hartley behind the bench and a new coaching staff with him, the skills laying within Backlund may finally be extracted and realized.

Other options the Flames had in the 2007 Draft:

• David Perron
• P.K. Subban
• Nick Spalding
• Wayne Simmonds
• Alec Martinez 
• Jamie Benn
• Carl Hagelin

All and all, not exactly the worst selection the Flames could have made, and with the guidance of Hartley, who knows, maybe the talents of Backlund will be brought out in these next few seasons.

Go Flames Go!